I know that I have referenced The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho before on this blog, but I have to say, the parallels between the journey of Santiago toward his Person Legend and the the adventure that I have been on in the past year are intense. Though this work is a fictional account, the verbiage and phraseology of the book has worked its way in to my day to day lexicon. Those that have made the best literary decision of their life and read The Alchemist will hear it, those that haven't won't. My friend Skinner sent me this quote yesterday from the book and I hope that it is as encouraging to you as it was for me."What you still need to know is this: before a dream is realized, the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this not because it is evil, but so that we can, in addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we've learned as we've moved toward that dream. That's the point at which, as we say in the language of the desert, one 'dies of thirst just when the palm trees have appeared on the horizon.' Every search begins with beginner's luck. And every search ends with the victor's being severely tested."